Algeria denies Burkina Faso at the death
Al Sadd striker Baghdad Bounedjah kept Algeria’s Africa Cup of Nations hopes alive with a stoppage-time header to deny Burkina Faso victory.
Boundejah, who had earlier cancelled out Mohamed Konate’s opener, snatched a 2-2 Group D draw at Stade de Bouake when he found the net five minutes into stoppage-time to ensure substitute Bertrand Traore’s 71st-minute penalty did not prove decisive.
The Stallions, who beat Mauritania in their opening fixture, looked destined for the Round of 16 as time ticked down, but Boundejah’s last-gasp intervention means both sides have work to do if they are to progress.
Chances were at a premium as the first half unfolded with Burkina Faso midfielder Abdoul Tapsoba forcing keeper Anthony Mandrea into a sixth-minute save from a header while at the other end, Youcef Belaili tested Kouakou Koffi with a shot towards the bottom corner six minutes later.
Algeria, which drew 1-1 with Angola in its first game, went close through Bounedjah as the sides jostled for position, and Koffi saved from Sofiane Feghouli a minute before the break with skipper Riyad Mahrez providing the ammunition.
However, it fell behind in first-half stoppage-time when Konate headed past Mandrea from Tapsoba’s cross.
Blati Toure might have extended his side’s lead four minutes after the restart, but it was pegged back by Bounedjah’s close-range finish two minutes later.
Bounedjah went close with a header as Algeria built up a head of steam, but it succumbed once again with 19 minutes remaining when defender Rayan Ait-Nouri was adjudged to have fouled Issa Kabore inside the box and after a VAR review confirmed the decision, substitute Traore converted the resulting spot-kick.
However, there was to be a late twist and it arrived at the death when Bounedjah netted from substitute Adam Ounas’s cross to snatch a point.